BOMB THREATBOMB THREATA bomb threat is A bomb threat is

an effective means of disrupting an effective means of disrupting business.business.

The problems are intensified when the incident involves an actual explosive or incendiary device.Although there is nofoolproof means of securing a premises against a bomb threat (or bomb attack), a good security plan, correctly executed, will enable a business to deal with an incident properly. Bombs and the threat of their use have become the primary weapon of the terrorist. They are also used as a means of retaliation by employees with real or fancied grievances, as well as by criminal extortionists.

Reasons:Reasons: 1.Political and/or social unrest 2.Labour unrest 37% were preceded by a threatening

note, letter, or telephone call to the establishment or individual target.

Financial institutions received some type of threat b4 the incident 72% of the time and commercial/retail establishments

58 % of the time. Offices were warned 29% of the time,

academic facilities 30%, and Residential property owners were warned

18% of the time.

Purpose The caller has definite knowledge or believes that an

explosive or incendiary device has been or willbe placed and may want to minimize personal injury or property damage. The caller may be either the person who placed the device or someone else who has become aware of such information

The caller wants to create an atmosphere of anxiety and panic which will, in turn, possibly result in a disruption of the normal activities at the facility where the device is purportedly located.

Panic personal injury and property damage ultimate achievement of the caller - Panic

Responding To Bomb ThreatsResponding To Bomb Threats Instruct Employees in what to do if a bomb threat Instruct Employees in what to do if a bomb threat

call is received. call is received. A calm response to the bomb threat caller could A calm response to the bomb threat caller could

result in obtaining additional information. result in obtaining additional information. Especially true if the caller wishes to avoid Especially true if the caller wishes to avoid

injuries or deaths. injuries or deaths. If told that the building is occupied or cannot be If told that the building is occupied or cannot be

evacuated in time, the bomb threat caller may be evacuated in time, the bomb threat caller may be willing to give more specific information on the willing to give more specific information on the bomb’s location, components, or methods of bomb’s location, components, or methods of initiation.initiation.

If Called – Actions to be performedIf Called – Actions to be performed Remain calmRemain calm Attempt to keep the caller on the line as long as Attempt to keep the caller on the line as long as

possible. Ask him/her to repeat the message. Record possible. Ask him/her to repeat the message. Record every word spoken by the person and use the telephone every word spoken by the person and use the telephone bomb threat checklist (Attachment II).bomb threat checklist (Attachment II).

*Ask for the exact location where bomb has been or *Ask for the exact location where bomb has been or is going to be planted.is going to be planted. *Get as much information as possible about the *Get as much information as possible about the caller, e.g., vocal characteristic, race, sex, group caller, e.g., vocal characteristic, race, sex, group affiliation, why the bomb was placed.affiliation, why the bomb was placed. *Clues from background noises, which might indicate *Clues from background noises, which might indicate caller's identification and location.caller's identification and location. Immediately after the caller hangs up, report the threat Immediately after the caller hangs up, report the threat

to to 911911, your supervisor, and the Emergency Response , your supervisor, and the Emergency Response Coordinator. Coordinator.

*Remain available, as law enforcement personnel will *Remain available, as law enforcement personnel will want to interview you.want to interview you. *Wait for further direction from the Emergency *Wait for further direction from the Emergency Response Coordinator. Response Coordinator. *Do not spread rumors*Do not spread rumors

Written Received, Perform to be performedWritten Received, Perform to be performed Remain calm.Remain calm. Avoid handling it unnecessarily in order to Avoid handling it unnecessarily in order to

preserve possible fingerprint(s), handwriting or preserve possible fingerprint(s), handwriting or typewriting, paper, and postal marks. These will typewriting, paper, and postal marks. These will prove essential in tracing the threat and prove essential in tracing the threat and identifying the writer. identifying the writer.

While written messages are usually associated While written messages are usually associated with generalized threats and extortion attempts, a with generalized threats and extortion attempts, a written warning of a specific device may written warning of a specific device may occasionally be received; it should never be occasionally be received; it should never be ignored.ignored.

Contact the Emergency Response Coordinator.Contact the Emergency Response Coordinator. Wait for further direction from the Emergency Wait for further direction from the Emergency

Response Coordinator. Response Coordinator. Do not spread rumorsDo not spread rumors

Physical Characteristics of Suspicious Physical Characteristics of Suspicious Packages and LettersPackages and Letters

Excessivepostage Incorrect titlesIncorrect titlesHandwritten or Handwritten or poorly typed poorly typed addressesaddresses

Lopsided or Lopsided or uneven envelope uneven envelope Protruding wires Protruding wires or aluminum foilor aluminum foil

Title, but no Title, but no namename

Misspellings of Misspellings of common wordscommon words

Oily stainsOily stains Excessive weightExcessive weight

discoloration or discoloration or odorodor

No return addressNo return address

Excessive Excessive security security material such material such as masking as masking tape, string, tape, string, etc.etc.

Ticking sound Ticking sound Marked with Marked with restrictive restrictive endorsements, endorsements, such as such as “Personal” or “Personal” or “Confidential”“Confidential”

Shows a city or Shows a city or state in the state in the postmark that postmark that does not match does not match the return the return addressaddress

Foreign Mail, Air Foreign Mail, Air mail and Special mail and Special DeliveryDelivery

Suspicious Object or Package Is Suspicious Object or Package Is DiscoveredDiscovered

Remain calm.Remain calm. The finder must not disturb or move the The finder must not disturb or move the

suspected object. suspected object. Clear all persons from the immediate vicinity. Clear all persons from the immediate vicinity. Call the Emergency Response Coordinator or Call the Emergency Response Coordinator or

911 911 Retreat to a safe distance and warn others to Retreat to a safe distance and warn others to

avoid the area. Be available to provide the avoid the area. Be available to provide the whereabouts of the suspected object to the whereabouts of the suspected object to the police.police.

Wait for further direction from the Emergency Wait for further direction from the Emergency Response Coordinator. Response Coordinator.

Do not spread rumorsDo not spread rumors

BOMB THREAT EVACUATION BOMB THREAT EVACUATION PROCEDURESPROCEDURES

The Emergency Response Coordinator will: Notify Notify 911 - 911 - make a decision to:make a decision to: 1.1. Ignore the threatIgnore the threat 2.2. Search and Evacuate Search and Evacuate 3.3. Evacuate ImmediatelyEvacuate Immediately If Search and Evacuate is warranted:If Search and Evacuate is warranted: 1.Emergency Response Coordinator notify by telephone 1.Emergency Response Coordinator notify by telephone

all Assistant Emergency Response Coordinators who in turn all Assistant Emergency Response Coordinators who in turn contact Floor Monitors within their areas of responsibility. contact Floor Monitors within their areas of responsibility. Instructions must be obeyed promptly.Instructions must be obeyed promptly.

2.2. suspicious items reported suspicious items reported 3.3. Floor Monitors and Facilities Management personnel Floor Monitors and Facilities Management personnel

should check their assigned areas such as restrooms, office should check their assigned areas such as restrooms, office areas, stairwells, and other common areas. areas, stairwells, and other common areas.

4.4. Employees should check (SCAN) their immediate work Employees should check (SCAN) their immediate work area for any unusual or suspicious items as they leave their area for any unusual or suspicious items as they leave their workstation.workstation.

If a suspicious object/item is located: Clear the area If a suspicious object/item is located: Clear the area where the suspicious object is located, and then evacuate the where the suspicious object is located, and then evacuate the rest of the building.rest of the building. 1.Employees should take all personal belongings with 1.Employees should take all personal belongings with them (i.e., car keys, coats, purse, and bags or backpacks). If a them (i.e., car keys, coats, purse, and bags or backpacks). If a suspect item is found, the employee may not return to the suspect item is found, the employee may not return to the building until it is found clear. This may take considerable building until it is found clear. This may take considerable time.time. 2. All employees should exit through a designated 2. All employees should exit through a designated evacuation route that has been checked for any devices, and evacuation route that has been checked for any devices, and proceed to their designated assembly area.proceed to their designated assembly area. 3.Parking lots and garages should be avoided, as they 3.Parking lots and garages should be avoided, as they may contain a vehicle bomb.may contain a vehicle bomb. After the bomb disposal organization has disposed of the After the bomb disposal organization has disposed of the suspicious object or verified that it is harmless, initiate action suspicious object or verified that it is harmless, initiate action to recall evacuees to their offices and work areas.to recall evacuees to their offices and work areas.

Types of actions considered essential areTypes of actions considered essential are Planning and InspectingPlanning and Inspecting Suspicious ActionsSuspicious Actions Building Service SpacesBuilding Service Spaces Stairwells and RestroomsStairwells and Restrooms Key ControlKey Control After‑Hour EntryAfter‑Hour Entry

FBI Bomb Threat Call Checklist Questions to Ask Exact Wording of the Threat – Sex,Age,Race of caller, Number at which call is received, Time & Date of call. Caller's Voice – Calm,Angry,Excited,Slow. Background Sounds - Street noises,Crockery,Voices,PA

System,Music. Threat Language - Well spoken, educated) ,Incoherent, Threat Language - Well spoken, educated) ,Incoherent,

Taped (message read by threat maker), Foul, Irrational.Taped (message read by threat maker), Foul, Irrational.